November Month 2009

Friday, November 27th, 2009

HOW DO YOU ENTER

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!." - Psalm 100: 1-2

There is proper and improper way to enter most facilities. Retail, grocery and shopping mall stores post signs that say "no shirt, no service". There are signs in public places which state no smoking, and in some hospital buildings they will ask you turn your cell phones off. All of these signs are indicators that suggest there is a right and wrong way to enter these facilities.

The 21st Century church must understand that there is also a right or proper way to enter into the presence of God. The psalmist in Psalm 100, is encouraging those that have made the journey to the temple that they ought to come in with a spirit of praise. Not a spirit of complaining or complacency but we should enter with a joyful noise. Our noise should not be to motivate or manipulate applause from people. Rather we should with gladness in our heart, shout, stomp, clap, use instruments and open our mouth with exuberant praise. We should have a song on our heart and a desire to serve our God who is worth to be praised!! With this in mind, How do you enter?

Pastor SP Courtney

Friday, Novemeber 20th, 2009

HOW YOU BEEN REDEEMED

"And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will rid you from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments." -Exodus 6:5-6

The children of Israel were a people who lived under the oppression of Egypt, and there circumstances were difficult and hopeless. They were beaten, battered and broken, causing them to cry out to God and groan in their sufferings. There redemption was the result of God reaching out his hand to deliver them from their dilemma.

The 21st Century church must understand that they are the redeemed. No matter our circumstances or our calamities, we have been taken from the burden of sin. We have been removed from the condemnation of our iniquities and delivered out of bondage. God’s redemption gives us the victory over death, sin and the grave. Like the children of Israel we can look past our predicament and began to transition toward our promised land. We have been made free. Whoever is set free by the blood of Jesus is free indeed. Do you believe in the power of God’s saving grace? If you have been redeemed, then let the redeemed of the Lord, SAY SO!!

Pastor SP Courtney

Friday, November 13th, 2009

TO DO OR NOT TO DO, THIS IS THE QUESTION

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth not, to him it is sin." -James 4:17

I am a good person who never hurts anybody and I do my best to not do anything I know is wrong. Isn’t that enough, isn’t that all that is asked of me? Many believers are stuck at this complacent and unproductive place in their spiritual journey. Committed to doing little and focused on doing even less. Yet I believe God expects us to not only know what’s right but to do what is right in his sight.

James the former skeptic half brother of Jesus who became a productive and passionate leader in the Jerusalem church gives insight to this subject. James says, for those who know what good is and understands their responsibility to do good, they must do good.

He is so serious about our charge to do what is good, that he proclaims not doing good as a sin against God. When you know someone is hungry but don’t feed them, its sin. When you know someone need encouragement but instead you put them down, that is sin. The people of God must understand that power of knowledge cannot manifest without a commitment to apply that knowledge to our lives. Every born again believer can find their purpose in the word of God, but they will reach their destiny unless they put their purpose into practice. What will you do, will you do good or will you sin against your father in heaven?

Pastor SP Courtney

Friday, November 6th, 2009

WILLING AND READY TO TESTIFY

"But "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" -1st Peter 3:15

Many believers are ready to go to church, willing to come to bible study or Sunday school. However very few are willing to testify about the goodness of the God that saved them. We are so busy doing our own thing and developing our own agendas that we fail to realize, God saved us that we might help save someone else.

The Apostle Peter understood this concept. His message to the church in 1st Peter chapter 3 is instructions for the church on living and walking in the Christian faith in the midst of persecution and problems. Here in verse 15, he specifically states that as believers we should set aside a place in our hearts for our God, and be ready out of our love for the Lord to tell anyone who will listen of the good things God has done.

We should never speak about our faith out of a spirit of pride and arrogance but rather with meekness and a reverence for who God is and what He has done. Be willing and ready to testify that He saved you, that he loves you, that he healed you, that he lives within you and is the center of your joy. Resolve on this Lord’s Day that you are His child and you are Willing and Ready to Testify.